Alcor Life Extension Foundation (Scottsdale, Arizona)-- Facility where people who have died are cryogenically frozen, including Baseball great Ted Williams. Tours are available.

Body Farms (University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Texas State University-San Marcos, and Western Carolina University in Cullowhee) -- Learn about crime-sleuthing and forensic-anthropology skills at these body farms, where scientists observe how donated bodies decay.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Pasadena, California) -- Free tours of the lab are offered, including the Space Simulator and the Marscape where rovers practice.

Soudon Underground Laboratory (Mine State Park in Minnesota) -- Travel 2,400 feet down to see an underground atom smasher.

Tsunami Research Center (Oregon State University in Corvallis) -- Watch huge waves being generated, including in a 350,000-gallon tank.

Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (University of California-San Diego, University of Buffalo, New York, and University of Nevada at Reno) -- Observe huge earthquake simulators.

I don't know if you're kidding or not Mrs M., but I just strolled over to Amazon.com and bought a used copy for $2.48.

There's another used copy at $2.48 available as well. Andrew?

Author: Alfredo_t
Wednesday, April 29, 2009 - 4:18 pm

I remember that Stiff - The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers came up on this board almost two years ago, when we were discussing the Body Worlds exhibit that was being shown at OMSI at the time.

If I were feeling a bit daring, I might visit one of these cadaver farms, despite the idea of coming face-to-face with rotting flesh seeming pretty disgusting to me. If I were to smell the decomposing cadavers, then I might toss my cookies.

Author: Mrs_merkin
Thursday, April 30, 2009 - 10:16 am

Alfredo, You could come over to my house and prepare yourself by changing and disposing of some diapers (Baby M's, not mine). The kid refuses to potty train...sigh.

Skep, you will enjoy "Stiff".

Author: Jr_tech
Thursday, April 30, 2009 - 10:37 am

Anybody know how to clean breakfast out of a keyboard?

I guess my idea of an ideal geek vacation would be like the one that Scott Fybush takes...travel around the country to visit various tower sites: